Pixel art is a form of digital art, created through the use of raster graphics programs, where images are edited on the pixel level. Pixel art can range from simple drawings to complex and detailed scenes, but it is always created using pixels. It is often used in video games and other media as a way to create a unique style.
When creating pixel art, it is important to consider how the image will look when resized. Resizing pixel art can often lead to distortion and loss of detail, as the pixels become distorted when enlarged or reduced. In order to avoid this issue, it’s important to understand how resizing works and the best ways to resize pixel art properly.
Resizing Pixel Art Basics:
When resizing pixel art, there are two main methods: scaling up or scaling down. Scaling up involves enlarging the image by adding more pixels or increasing the size of existing ones; scaling down involves reducing the size by removing some pixels or decreasing their size. Both methods can be used to change the size of an image without losing its original detail.
There are several techniques available for scaling up and down pixel art: nearest neighbor interpolation, bilinear interpolation, bicubic interpolation, and Lanczos interpolation.
Nearest Neighbor Interpolation:
Nearest neighbor interpolation is a simple method of resizing pixel art where each existing pixel is replicated in its new location after resizing. This method preserves sharp edges in the artwork but can result in noticeable jaggedness or “stair-stepping” when viewed at larger sizes.
Bilinear Interpolation:
Bilinear interpolation uses more complex calculations than nearest neighbor interpolation; instead of replicating existing pixels in their new locations after resizing, it smooths out any jagged edges by blending colors across multiple neighboring pixels. This results in smoother lines when viewing an enlarged image but may also cause some details to become blurred.
Bicubic Interpolation:
Bicubic interpolation is similar to bilinear interpolation but uses even more advanced calculations; instead of blending colors across two neighboring pixels like with bilinear interpolation, it blends them across four neighboring pixels for even smoother lines when viewing an enlarged image. However, it may still cause some details to become blurred.
Lanczos Interpolation:
Lanczos interpolation is a more complicated method that uses predetermined curves called “filter kernels” which are mathematically calculated based on each individual color channel (red/green/blue) in order to determine how they should be blended together when resizing an image. This results in sharper details being preserved when enlarging images but may still cause some blurring at smaller sizes.
In conclusion, you can resize pixel art using various techniques such as nearest neighbor interpolation, bilinear interpolation, bicubic interpolation and Lanczos interpolations depending on your desired result. However it’s important to note that these techniques should be used with caution as they can cause distortion or loss of detail if not done correctly.